Curriculum

Virtual Assistant Course Curriculum

Your self-paced virtual assistant courses are designed to help you learn the foundational skills to start a successful new career. You'll cover essential business and technical skills that a virtual personal assistant needs like writing for business, creating presentations, and attracting clients.

Virtual Assistant

Career Diploma

5 months

As low as $59/mo

Full Program Overview

1-800-275-4410 (9AM - 9PM ET)

Virtual Assistant Course Curriculum

6 courses
37.0 continuing education units (CEUs)
26 exams
3 submitted projects

Estimated completion time:

Fast track = 5 months
Average time = 10 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - April 2022, excluding withdrawals.

This course will introduce you to the virtual assistant career, including common roles and responsibilities, typical work and location circumstances, and effective ways to communicate remotely.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe how to use the Penn Foster student portal and resources
- Explain the role and responsibilities of a virtual assistant
- Analyze the work and location circumstances of a virtual assistant
- Identify effective ways to communicate remotely with other people
In this course, you’ll explore qualities of professional communication, writing formats, word processing techniques, and specialized writing styles common in modern business..

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Navigate the tools necessary to build an online business
- Explain how to set-up both the online and offline portions of a business
- Describe how to create a business plan for an internet-based profession
In this course, you'll investigate the many tools virtual assistants use to communicate. You'll explore how to use Microsoft® Word™ and PowerPoint®, but also separate internet and traditional writing.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Identify the basic skills needed to use Microsoft® Word™
- Describe the basic skills needed for effective written communications
- Compare between writing for web and for traditional outlets
- Identify the basic skills needed to use Microsoft® PowerPoint®
- Create a presentation and make it available online
In this course, you’ll learn how to work with a variety of social media and web-based tools to effectively market a business and yourself online and to perform common business organization, communication, and productivity tasks necessary for virtual assistant work.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe how to set up and manage social media accounts for business and professional purposes
- Identify target audience using social media marketing strategies
- Explain how search engine optimization and analytics work and how these can support business goals
- Describe web tools used by businesses and virtual assistants to improve organization, communication, and productivity
In this course you’ll explore methods to successfully operate a home business as a virtual assistant contractor. You’ll learn about the nature of contract work, how to set rates and keep records, how to work well with clients, and how to effectively manage your time.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the structure and requirements of contract work
- Explain how to set rates, keep records, and bill for services
- Identify the skills necessary to use Microsoft Excel
- Discuss the bookkeeping and legal aspects of owning a business
- Summarize how to manage client expectations
- Analyze how to manage time effectively
This course will provide you with the information you need to successfully market yourself as a virtual assistant by using online and real time resources and techniques. You’ll also learn how to build a positive professional history and explore the most effective ways to find work as a virtual assistant.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the many ways to market oneself online and in real time as a virtual assistant
- Explain the benefits of treating virtual assistant work as a business
- Explain the importance and methods of building a positive professional history
- Analyze the most effective ways of finding work as a virtual assistant

Note: We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.